Wedge Light Guide Optics for Slim Solar Concentrators
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Early solar concentrators were complex and bulky, limiting their widespread commercial acceptance in concentrated photovoltaic systems due to inefficiencies in concentrating sunlight onto solar energy collectors.
Innovation Solution
A slim-profile solar concentrator design utilizing a wedge-shaped light guide with plano-convex lenses and reflector elements, where light is redirected through total internal reflection and specular reflection, allowing for efficient light concentration and transmission to a solar energy collector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional solar concentrator designs are used, then light concentration capability is achieved, but device complexity and bulkiness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optical functions (light guiding, total internal reflection, and focal concentration) into a single integrated wedge-shaped light guide structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate complex optical components while maintaining effective light concentration capability, directly resolving the contradiction between device complexity and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wedge-shaped light guide serves multiple functions simultaneously: it guides light from the input surface, performs total internal reflection at its boundaries, and concentrates light at its wedge tip. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing structural complexity while preserving light concentration efficiency.
2Productivity
If more optical components are added to improve light concentration, then light concentration efficiency increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates light guiding, reflection, and concentration functions into one wedge-shaped component, eliminating the need for multiple separate optical elements. This single-component design maintains high light concentration efficiency while significantly reducing the number of components and overall device complexity.
3Productivity
If traditional bulky concentrator designs are used, then light concentration is achieved, but material usage and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging all optical functions into a single wedge-shaped light guide, the patent eliminates redundant materials and components found in traditional bulky designs. This integration achieves the same light concentration capability with significantly reduced material usage, improving both quantity of substance and associated costs.
4Manufacturing precision
If complex optical systems are used, then light concentration precision is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge-shaped light guide can be manufactured as a single molded piece using standard plastic injection molding techniques. The integrated design eliminates the need for precise assembly of multiple optical components, making manufacturing simpler while maintaining the precision needed for effective light concentration through the wedge geometry's inherent optical properties.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design achieves efficient light concentration while reducing material usage and complexity, enhancing the commercial viability of solar concentrators by improving their slim-profile and flexible configurations.
Implementation Method 1
light is redirected through total internal reflection and specular reflection
Implementation Method 2
light is redirected through total internal reflection and specular reflection
Data Source
AI summary
Optics are provided for use in solar concentrators, the optics having a light guide, a redirecting layer including a plurality of lenses, and a plurality of reflector elements. Sunlight is received by the redirecting lenses, which focus the sunlight onto reflective surfaces of the reflector elements. The reflective surface of each reflector element redirects the light into the light guide, which guides the light toward a solar energy collector, such as a photovoltaic cell. The light from the light guide may be directed onto the solar energy collector by a light conditioning element.